❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE SEVEN ❞
♧ In a Lonely Place ♧

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Isabella sat alone at lunch, Archie was off with Valerie, Kevin was busy elsewhere, Betty and Veronica were together trying to resolve Polly's situation after learning she was hiding in the Cooper attic; And finally, Jughead seemed to be avoiding Isabella. She wasn't sure why but she knew better than to push the boy for answers, he wasn't that kind of person and she knew he'd talk when he was ready. So instead she focused on the biology notes in front of her, she couldn't risk falling behind in the one class she struggled the most in. Her attention was taken when someone sat across from her, she looked up to see Jughead.

"Hey JJ," Isabella spoke with a small smile, he glanced at her before looking back at his laptop. She swallowed carefully at the action, ignored that he was sitting across from her rather than next to her and tried to focus on her textbook. "Why are you being distant?" Isabella asked Jughead as she had enough, she looked up at him with a small frown. "Can I help or is it something you need to deal with alone? I mean... We've barely talked lately and I..." Isabella trailed off as the words she wanted to say died in her throat. "It's nothing," Jughead tried to brush it off, he didn't want to outright say he was jealous.

"It's not nothing Jughead but when you're ready to talk... I'm here," Isabella spoke before packing up her things and walking away, she couldn't push him for answers but she couldn't stay either. Jughead watched her go, his mind swirling as she used his name rather than the nickname only she called him. Isabella's ringtone went off, and she looked to see a message from Noah with a time and date; she knew what it meant. Isabella needed to blow off some steam so she headed to the school gym, the punching bag was already up as she wrapped her knuckles and began preparing for the fight.

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Later that night, Isabella pulled up to Pop's and headed inside however her attention was taken from the delicious menu by a familiar voice. "Princess?" Fred called out, Isabella turned to see Archie, Jughead, Fred and FP Jones sitting at a table. "Hey, Uncle Fred," Isabella greeted him as he stood to hug her, she prepared to fight back a wince knowing that her ribs were still bruised. "How are you doing?" Fred asked as he rested his hands on her shoulders. "I'm doing okay. Getting by day by day," Isabella replied as he nodded with pride and sat down. "FP Jones, we meet again," Isabella teased making FP laugh.

"So it seems we do. How are the parents?" FP asked, he knew her mother's condition but was careful about how he spoke. "They're doing good. They're having a movie date night but mom would want me to tell you that she misses you... And she misses kicking your ass," Isabella told him making Fred and FP laugh while Archie and Jughead shared a look. "Little Annie was the best fighter in this town, she put me to shame," FP replied eliciting a genuine laugh from Isabella who nodded. "She's told me a fair few stories including Senior Year when she knocked you flat in front of the whole school," Isabella told him with a teasing grin.

Jughead's heart swooned at the sight of Isabella and his father getting along and sharing a laugh, he knew that his dad was friends with Christian Larkin but didn't realise that FP had been good friends with Annelise as well. "I'll have to come by for a visit," FP suddenly said, Isabella grinned widely at that. "Mom would love that," Isabella told him before clearing her throat. "Anyway, I feel like I interrupted guy's night, so I'll leave you four to it," Isabella told them before looking at Archie and Jughead, "I'll see you both at school." Her eyes lingered on Jughead before she walked back to the counter, ordering her food before sitting in a booth.

Jughead watched her until she was seated, he turned back around to see all three of his table companions staring at him amused. "So not Betty, but Isabella?" FP asked with a teasing grin on his face, Jughead cleared his throat and huffed while Archie smirked with Fred. "Well, if it means anything at all Jughead, I'd trust you with my niece over anyone else in this town and I know my sister and brother-in-law would agree with that judgement," Fred told Jughead who, despite not admitting it out loud, found comfort and acceptance by those words. "She, uh, she's my best friend. And as seen during the search... she's got someone else," Jughead said with a shrug.

Archie furrowed his brows remembering the guy that was walking with Isabella and while Archie was terrible with girls, he knew his cousin and she had no interest in the guy she walked with. Archie had seen the way Isabella would purposely sit with Jughead or stand close to him, the way she would look for him first in a room or side with him in an argument, and especially the way Isabella looked at Jughead Jones the Third. Archie knew that Isabella had feelings for Jughead, she just didn't know it yet. But he knew he needed to get the two to talk and fix this distance before it got worse and that spark between them burned out.

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"ISA!" Jughead's voice stopped Isabella as she was about to get in her car, she turned to see him jog over to her. "Hey, Jug," Isabella spoke softly as she looked up to see Archie, Fred and FP watching from a distance. "I, uh, wanted to apologise for being so distant with you. There's just been a lot going on and..." Jughead trailed off as Isabella smiled at him. "I know, JJ. It's okay. Things have been crazy in Riverdale and I suspect it'll only worsen but you haven't lost me and you never will," Isabella told him with a grin, Jughead smiled in relief. "I'm gonna hug you now," Isabella told him before wrapping her arms around his neck.

Jughead chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her waist, she rested her head in the crook of his neck and took in a slow breath while closing her eyes. Jughead felt a shiver through his body at the warmth of her breath on his bare skin, he closed his own eyes and pulled her closer to him. The embers within the fire of their souls seemed to spark into a small flame as Jughead felt comfort in her arms and Isabella felt safe in his arms. The two reluctantly pulled out of the hold and smiled at each other, "I'll see you later, JJ." He nodded his head only to freeze when she kissed his cheek, watching her leave before walking over to his dad and the Andrews' who all began teasing him instantly.

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Isabella was with Kevin as the two worked on math work. "So who was the beau that was walking with you during the forest search?" Kevin asked with glistening eyes. "His name is Noah, he's from the Southside and no... Never gonna happen," Isabella replied as she focused on her notes rather than the gossip queen in front of her. "Southside? How'd that happen?" Kevin asked her, pulling the book away from her. "There's a convenience store in the Southside with way better pricing than the Northside. I bumped into him there," Isabella gave Kevin the story that Noah helped her come up with to hide Noah's true identity.

Before Kevin could say anything further, a student rushed into the room and looked straight at Isabella, "Hurry! Jones has been arrested!" Isabella and Kevin shared a look before jumping up and racing out of the study hall, they followed the girl all the way to the main hall where Jughead was walking with Sheriff Keller. Jughead's eyes locked with Isabella's, his eyes showed how scared he actually was and it made Isabella's heart pound in her chest. "Sheriff?! You can't be serious?" Isabella called out but Sheriff Keller ignored her and assisted Jughead in getting into the car. "I'll grab your stuff, Belle. Go," Kevin encouraged.

Isabella rushed out to the parking lot and got into her car, she instantly took off to the police station before carelessly parking her car and heading into the station. "Miss Larkin," A deputy spoke up, she brushed him off. "I want to see Jughead or Sheriff Keller," Isabella spoke with a determined expression on her face, one that most knew not to mess with. Sheriff Keller walked out into the foyer spotting Isabella, he sighed to himself knowing she'd tear the place apart if she had to. "Bella," Sheriff Keller caught her attention, he motioned her to follow him and she did immediately despite Archie rushing in at the same time.

After Keller opened the door letting Isabella into the room, he closed it to give them privacy. Isabella instantly wrapped her arms around Jughead who had watery eyes, she knew that no matter what tough persona he had; this was a terrifying moment for Jughead Jones. "I didn't do it, Isa, you have to believe me," Jughead spoke with a broken tone. "I know, JJ. Betty was with you... I know you wouldn't do this, it's not who you are," Isabella assured him as he nudged his head into the crook of her neck, this was the safest he'd felt all day; in Isabella Larkin's arms.

"Those Paradise Lost kids went to death row because they wore black and they listened to Metallica. I don't wanna become a scapegoat," Jughead muttered to Isabella, voice cracking, and she tightened her hold on him. "I won't let that happen, JJ. I'm not gonna let that happen," Isabella promised him, she closed her eyes as she heard him sniffle. "All the evidence against you is circumstantial. We're gonna get you out of here," Isabella told him as she lightly dragged her nails up and down his spine, the action was both soothing to Jughead and causing shivers through his body.

"Is my dad here yet?" Jughead asked as he reluctantly pulled away from Isabella, though he kept his hands on her waist while she rested her own on the sides of his shoulders. "Archie's here with Uncle Fred. They're talking to the Sheriff but I don't think they know where FP is," Isabella told him with a small frown, she knew how that would affect Jughead, she saw it in the way his face fell. "You're not alone," Isabella promised as she grabbed his face in her hands, he searched her eyes for a lie in her words but the green was pure and honest.

Sheriff Keller walked in and informed them that Jughead was free to go, Isabella smiled before grabbing Jughead's hand and pulling him along behind her. She smiled at Archie and Fred, the two sent her a reassuring Andrews' grin before they all left the station. Jughead refused to let go of Isabella's hand, he felt grounded holding her hand and he really needed it in this moment. "Jughead!" FP's voice caught the group's attention, they turned to look at him. "I'm sorry. I came as soon as I got your messages. My phone, the friggin' battery. I forgot to plug it in last night," FP explained as he stood in front of Jughead, Isabella standing next to him.

"What the hell happened?" FP asked as he looked around at everyone. "Nothing. It's fine now. Mr Andrews took care of it," Jughead answered him, he really didn't want to deal with this right now; truthfully, Jughead really wanted to just get back to the Andrews' residence and hold Isabella, it'd be enough for him right now. "What jacked-up crap did they accuse you of in there, huh?" FP asked riled up, he stepped closer as he continued, "Those bastards trying to throw you in jail like they did your old man? Well, screw that. I will rip Keller a new one for trying to pull that..."

Isabella felt Jughead's hand tightened in hers, she leaned closer to him as Fred stepped forward to stop FP from walking into the station. "FP, settle down," Fred told his old friend shoving him back knowing that Jughead didn't need this right now. "Hey! Hey! He's my son. He's my son, Fred!" FP shouted in Fred's face. "You'd do the same for you boy, for your niece," FP added causing Jughead to tense more due to his father involving Isabella. "Dad," Jughead grabbed his father's jacket and stopped him, "Don't make things worse. Please." FP looked into his son's eyes before glancing at Isabella who sent him the same reassuring smile she did the day she promised to have Jughead's back.

"Yeah. Yeah, all right, then. You, uh, coming home with me?" FP asked after taking a breath to calm down, "Bella can come along." Jughead stepped back a bit, he didn't want Isabella to see that. "He can stay with us, Mr Jones. We already offered," Archie spoke up while Jughead and FP continued to focus on each other, Isabella gently rubbed her thumbs across Jughead's knuckles in hopes to soothe him. "Is that what you want?" FP asked Jughead who glanced away for a moment, he was conflicted about what to do. "Maybe that's for the best. If you don't mind, Fred," FP asked Fred. "Whatever you want, FP. It's between the two of you," Fred told him.

"I'll go with you, Dad," Jughead spoke as FP moved to walk away, Jughead looked down at Isabella who sent him a reassuring smile; the choice was Jughead's. Isabella let go of Jughead's hand knowing he wouldn't, she stepped closer to Archie as Jughead moved to follow his father. Archie rested his arm around his cousin, she looked up at FP who looked at her before FP sighed and turned to his son. "Son, listen to me. I'm gonna do what you want, get my act together. I'm gonna get your mom and Jellybean home so we're all under the same roof. I promise," FP sniffled as he rested his hand on his son's shoulder.

"But I... I just need a little time to do that. Not a lot, not long, a month, two at the most," FP assured him as best as he could. "Hey. And then we'll be back on track, all right? You... You believe that, don't you?" FP asked him, his hands resting on his son's face. "Yeah, I believe you, Dad," Jughead answered him before he pulled his father into a hug, FP hesitated at the unexpected action before hugging his son back. FP nodded at Isabella and she smiled back, FP pulled away from his son and wiped his face before nodding to his son and walking away, glancing back at his son for a moment.

Jughead wiped his face before turning back to the others, Isabella moved toward him instantly and rested her hand on the side of his face, Jughead leaned into her hand before placing his arm around her waist and leading her away knowing she'd driven here and all he wanted was to be around her. It was possibly the worst timing in Isabella's mind, but she realised how important Jughead Jones was to her; she couldn't imagine her life without him and his sardonic humour. The small fire in her soul sparked with embers, blazing brighter with every word, every touch and every look; she was falling for Jughead Jones.

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Hope.
A word so close to home, and as tricky.
As much as we wanted Jason's killer caught, and the town, our home, to feel safe again, with every day that passed, our hopes dimmed more and more.

There's that old, cliched saying, "It's darkest before the dawn."
But sometimes...

There's just darkness.

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Rosemary Here!

ISABELLA IS FALLING!?
Or realising, at least?

Poor Jughead. But can we admire the great acting between Skeet and Cole, like that scene between them gets me every damn time!

Honest opinion: What do you like most and least about this book so far?

See you next chapter!